“While action doesn’t appear imminent on a GenX bill in the General Assembly, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the court system and utilities are forging ahead on their own pieces of the GenX puzzle.”
“The issue: Chemours promised to stop discharging into the Cape Fear River… Chemours agreed Nov. 30 to capture all of its process-related wastewater following almost six months of state and federal investigations, legal filings and public outcry triggered by a StarNews report that researchers found GenX and other fluorochemicals from the company in the river and downstream public water systems. The company already faced losing its discharge privilege after DEQ moved to partially suspend its permit at the end of November.”
“The issue: Chemours wants to renew its discharge permit… Chemours’ permit also covers discharges from DuPont and Kuraray… DEQ also has not said whether it would grant Chemours’ request to stop mandated monitoring of the river and the company’s outflow for C8, the toxic substance GenX replaced.
“The issue: Two notices from DEQ alleging Chemours violated pollution-related regulations… Each violation could result in a fine of as much as $25,000… GenX contamination is not confined to water and the ground. It and chemical precursors to it also have been emitted into the air, likely contributing to the tainting of a growing tally of private wells surrounding the industrial site.”
Read the full article by Vaughn Hagerty and Adam Wagner.